Show case



March 22, 1932. SANDERS 1,850,417

SHOW CASE Filed Nov. 21. 1930 Infewifia? Er/zesZ Jana e21; 40%

15 J1 mine Patented Mar. 22, 1932 1,85%,417

UIIQTTED STATEE ERNEST SANDERS, OF DETROTT, MICHIGAN SHOW CASE Application. filed November 21, 1930. Serial No. 497,208.

The invention relates to improvements in ing, to persons inspecting the contents of the display cases and more particularly to an 1111- display case.

proved means for effectively illuminating re- The improved construction is such that the frigerated display cases by artificial lighting artificial illuminating means, although means arranged outside of the case. mounted on the 'QXtQIlOl' of the, display case,

An object of the invention is to provide imis completely concealed by the construction proved means for illuminating refrigerated of said case, and is provided with means to display cases without impairing the eiiiciency protect the lighting means against overheatof the refrigerator. ing, which usually results in the lighting 19 Another object is to provide an improved means burning out, and to prevent overheatstruoture wherein artificial lighting means is ing of the exterior of the case. mounted on the exterior of a refrigerated As illustrated in the accompanying drawdispiay case and concealed without subject ings, a conventional form of refrigerated dising any portion of the display case to overplay case is shown comprising like end walls heating. 11 and a vertical front wall 12. Cases of this Another object is to provide means to concharacter usually are substantially rectanguceal artificial lighting means on display cases lar in plan, and are provided with an inwithcut impairing the eiiiciency of the illuclined transparent front panel 13 which exminating system. tends upwardly from the front wall 12 and is v Another object is to provide means to premounted at its upper edge in a suitable subvent overheating of the artificial illuniinatstantially narrow frame structure 1%. The i means frame structure 14, defining the upper portion Another object is to provide a refrigerated of the case preferably is built up, as illusdisplay case with improved inexpensive and trated in Fig. 2, of several layers of material effective means for cooling, shielding, and 15 having suitable insulating material, such protectin artificial illuminating means. as for example, hair, or fiber 16 arranged The foregoing and such other objects of between said layers. The usual closure doors the invention as will appear hereinafter as 17 are provided on the rear side of the dis the description proceeds, will be more readily play case, whereby access may be had to the I 30 understood from a perusal of the following interior. as specification, reference being had to the ac- A. substantially rectangular sheet metal companying drawings, in which: panel 18 forms a top for the upper end of the Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of display case, said panel having depending the improved display case. marginal flanges l9 therearound for embrac- Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view ing the frame structure 14 to provide a through the upper portion of the display finished appearance to the display case. case. It will be noted,upon reference to Fig. 2, It is obvious that artificial illuminating that the upper edge of the inclined transmeans cannot satisfactorily be placed withparent front panel 13 is supported in the in a refrigerated display case because the frame structure 14: inwardly ofthe front marheat created by such illuminatin means deginal flange 19' of the panel 18. This manner feats the eiiicienoy of refrigeration. Arof supporting the transparent panel 13 prorangement of artificial illuminating means vides sufficient space between said transparent on the outside of a display case necessitates panel and the marginal flange 19 to re 7 the employment of shields and reflectors, or ceive any number of light fixtures 21. similar devices,to direct the light-into the in- These fixtures are of any approved type terior of the case. Such shields, reflectors, adapted to receive artificial lighting means or the like, often detract from the appearance preferably in the form of conventional elecof the display case and become overheated, trio light bulbs 22. The marginal flange 19 5 and may cause discomfortor injury, by burnon the forwardly extending edge of the top 2 V r r 1,850,417

' panel 18 is offset longitudinally to provide an outwardly downwardly extending shoulder portion 23, which shields the artificial lighting means 22 from view without com- 5 pletely enclosing said lighting means to cause its being overheated and subsequently burned out. The improved structure insures free circulation of air about the artificial lighting means22, A plurality of holes 24 are provided in the flange 19 adjacent each light fix ture to increase the circulation of air about a each light source.

' It can readily be understood that the improved mounting for the artificial lighting 1 means on the outside of a refrigerated displa case prevents overheating of said case an overheating of the top 18.

Although an exemplary form of the improved refrigerated display case is illustrated 20 in the accompanying drawings and described in detail in the foregoing specification, it is tobe understoodthat the improved structure may embodycertain modifications in detail structure falling within the spirit of the in- 2 vention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7 1. Atop, for a display case, comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular sheet of material having downwardly extending marginal flanges on its edges, one of the longitudinal flanges being spaced from the display case and having a longitudinal offset extending outwardly downwardly to shield artificial lighting means mounted on the upper end of 85 the display case, and said one flange having a plurality of openings therein adjacent each lighting means to effect circulation of air around said lighting means.

2. A. top for a display case comprising a 40 substantially rectangular sheet of material having a flange extending therefrom around its edges, the flange on one side of said sheet being spaced from the side of said display case and extending outwardly downwardly over its entire length, said flange having its marginal edge turned downwardly substantially parallel with-the flanges to provide a reflector for lighting means arranged on said display, case below said top. I In testimony whereof I affix my signature at Detroit, Michigan.

a ERNEST SANDERS. 

